In a historic first, Britain’s Conservative Party on Saturday elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader, putting a staunchly pro-Israel figure at the head of a U.K. political party.
Badenoch, 44, a former software engineer whose parents were immigrants from Nigeria, replaces former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as the head of the opposition following a crushing election defeat in July. The right-of-center party is trying to rebound after an abrupt end to 14 years in power.
“The task that stands before us is tough but simple,” Badenoch said following her selection as head of the Conservative Party. “Our first responsibility as His Majesty’s loyal opposition is to hold this Labour government to account. Our second is no less important. It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.”
A business secretary in the previous Conservative government, she favors a low-tax free-market economy. She also becomes the first black woman to head a party that has had three other female leaders.
Israel’s moral clarity
Badenoch is a staunch supporter of Israel and has spoken out for the Jewish state at a time when other world leaders have criticized Jerusalem or maintained neutrality.
“We can see that they [Israel] cannot be complacent, and they have to do what they need to do to defend themselves, and quite frankly to survive,” she said following the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
As the U.K.’s International Trade Secretary, Badenoch also fended off massive pressure to suspend or revoke arms export licenses to Israel last year amid Israel’s war against Hamas, a move that the Labour government subsequently adopted following their election landslide.
After Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September, Badenoch told Sky News that the strike was “extraordinary.”
“Israel is showing moral clarity in dealing with its enemies and the enemies of the West as well,” she said.
In a statement to JNS on Monday, the U.K.’s Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) said, “Kemi has demonstrated her staunch support for Israel and the UK’s Jewish community during her time in Government and throughout the leadership contest. We look forward to working with Kemi to further promote U.K.-Israel ties and to continue to oppose the Labour Government’s harmful policies on Israel.”
In a letter to Conservative Jewish supporters, Badenoch had expressed concern over the Labour Party’s reversing of the strong U.K.-Israel relationship nurtured under the last government, and “turning the U.K. against our free, democratic ally: making ourselves, Israel and the Jewish people around the world less safe.”
In September, the British government suspended some arms sales to Israel, claiming that there was “clear risk” that the weapons could be used by the Israel Defense Forces to “commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy informed lawmakers that London would cancel 30 out of 350 licenses, banning the export of aircraft, drones, helicopters and ground-targeting equipment.
Congratulations from Israel
Israeli leaders welcomed Badenoch’s election, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeting, “I send my heartfelt congratulations to Kemi Badenoch. I am sure she will continue the great tradition of Israeli-British partnership and friendship.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz tweeted, “Warm congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party in the U.K.” He went on to call Badenoch “a true friend of Israel,” and congratulated her “for breaking yet another glass ceiling.”
